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Je léto po střední škole. Šest talentovaných přátel má po zkouškách a čeká je zářivá budoucnost. Jenže pak se pustí do riskantní zábavy a způsobí smrtelnou nehodu. Sen o prestižních univerzitách se rázem změní v noční můru o životě ve vězení. Ve vypjaté situaci se osmnáctiletá Megan rozhodně vzít vinu na sebe. Ostatní jí za to slíbí, že jí po propuštění z vězení splní jakékoliv přání. O dvacet let později je Megan na svobodě a hra začíná.
Je léto po střední škole. Šest talentovaných přátel má po zkouškách a čeká je zářivá budoucnost. Jenže pak se pustí do riskantní zábavy a způsobí smrtelnou nehodu. Sen o prestižních univerzitách se rázem změní v noční můru o životě ve vězení. Ve vypjaté situaci se osmnáctiletá Megan rozhodně vzít vinu na sebe. Ostatní jí za to slíbí, že jí po propuštění z vězení splní jakékoliv přání. O dvacet let později je Megan na svobodě a hra začíná.
392 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2021
1899 people are currently reading
32863 people want to read
About the author
Sharon J. Bolton
44 books4,542 followersSharon's newest book The Split is now available in both hardback and paperback in the UK!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Split-grippi...
Sharon J Bolton was born and brought up in Lancashire, the eldest of three daughters. As a child, she dreamed of becoming an actress and a dancer, studying ballet, tap and jazz from a young age and reading drama at Loughborough University.
She spent her early career in marketing and PR before returning to full-time education to study for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at Warwick University, where she met her husband, Andrew. They moved to London and Sharon held a number of PR posts in the City. She left the City to work freelance, to start a family and to write.
She and Andrew now live in a village in the Chiltern Hills, not far from Oxford, with their son and the latest addition to the family: Lupe, the lop-eared lurcher. Her daily life revolves around the school run, walking the dog and those ever-looming publishing deadlines.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Split-grippi...
Sharon J Bolton was born and brought up in Lancashire, the eldest of three daughters. As a child, she dreamed of becoming an actress and a dancer, studying ballet, tap and jazz from a young age and reading drama at Loughborough University.
She spent her early career in marketing and PR before returning to full-time education to study for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at Warwick University, where she met her husband, Andrew. They moved to London and Sharon held a number of PR posts in the City. She left the City to work freelance, to start a family and to write.
She and Andrew now live in a village in the Chiltern Hills, not far from Oxford, with their son and the latest addition to the family: Lupe, the lop-eared lurcher. Her daily life revolves around the school run, walking the dog and those ever-looming publishing deadlines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,210 reviews
February 20, 2021
The Queen of the psychological thriller, Sharon Bolton, serves up her latest delicious and irresistible novel examining the nature of love and friendship amongst a close knit group of young friends, experiencing the golden summer of drink and drugs after the end of their A level exams at the exclusive All Souls School in Oxford. They are certain, after their lives of privilege, of the glittering future awaiting them, nothing stands in their way, the world at their feet. They are members of the senior prefect team, with the cleverest and beautiful 18 year old Megan as head girl, and unlike the others, a scholarship girl from an impoverished single parent family. For her, Felix, Xav, Amber, Daniel and Talitha, their lives stand to burn and shatter into tiny pieces one night when a dare goes hideously wrong, resulting in the deaths of GP and mother, Sophie and her two young daughters, Lily and Maisie.
It is Megan who comes forward, offering to take the blame, leaving the others free to fulfil their hopes and dreams. In return, she wants a non-negotiable favour from each of them on release from prison, and their support through the ordeal, although none of them forsee the devastating 20 year prison sentence and national vilification that Megan receives. Surely, given what Megan has sacrificed for them, the group will support Megan? 20 years later, the 5 have carved successful careers, Amber is a junior minister, Tal is a senior partner in a law firm, Felix is a self made millionaire industrialist, Xav is an investment banker, all married, some with children, and Daniel is now the head of All Souls, with a Doctorate in Classics, living as a lay monk in a religious order. They have all had to live in the heart of darkness, the fear, guilt and shame, tainted by the awareness of their personal shortcomings, they have not been left untouched by their actions of so long ago.
When Megan is released, physically in a poor state, having endured two decades of a nightmare of untold suffering, unsurprisingly she is no longer the friend they remember, as she comes to collect on the promise of their favours. They have everything to lose, how far will they go to protect themselves? Once again, Bolton gives us a brilliantly atmospheric, twisty, malevolent, riveting and disturbing thriller, beautifully plotted, maybe not perfect, particularly the end, but which had me enthralled from beginning to end, with a growing sense of dread in the pit of my stomach as the nature of each in the group, the drama and the reality of their friendships are slowly revealed. I particularly appreciated the rich descriptions of the salvage yard with its weeping Angel. This is a cracking read that Bolton's legion of fans are likely to love and adore, and if you have never read her, this is a great place to start! Highly recommended! Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
It is Megan who comes forward, offering to take the blame, leaving the others free to fulfil their hopes and dreams. In return, she wants a non-negotiable favour from each of them on release from prison, and their support through the ordeal, although none of them forsee the devastating 20 year prison sentence and national vilification that Megan receives. Surely, given what Megan has sacrificed for them, the group will support Megan? 20 years later, the 5 have carved successful careers, Amber is a junior minister, Tal is a senior partner in a law firm, Felix is a self made millionaire industrialist, Xav is an investment banker, all married, some with children, and Daniel is now the head of All Souls, with a Doctorate in Classics, living as a lay monk in a religious order. They have all had to live in the heart of darkness, the fear, guilt and shame, tainted by the awareness of their personal shortcomings, they have not been left untouched by their actions of so long ago.
When Megan is released, physically in a poor state, having endured two decades of a nightmare of untold suffering, unsurprisingly she is no longer the friend they remember, as she comes to collect on the promise of their favours. They have everything to lose, how far will they go to protect themselves? Once again, Bolton gives us a brilliantly atmospheric, twisty, malevolent, riveting and disturbing thriller, beautifully plotted, maybe not perfect, particularly the end, but which had me enthralled from beginning to end, with a growing sense of dread in the pit of my stomach as the nature of each in the group, the drama and the reality of their friendships are slowly revealed. I particularly appreciated the rich descriptions of the salvage yard with its weeping Angel. This is a cracking read that Bolton's legion of fans are likely to love and adore, and if you have never read her, this is a great place to start! Highly recommended! Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
June 12, 2023
An easy 5 stars for my favourite psychological thriller this year. A book that was immersive, fast paced, and psychologically disturbing.
‘The Pact’ and packed with everything you need from a captivating thriller. A deadly bond among five privileged students (plus one). A lethal pact with devastating consequences, and a conspiracy of lies which forces the dynamics between the group to shift constantly. Haunting from beginning to end. A book I could not put down.
The Plot
A reckless car adventure among the six friends leads to the death of a schoolteacher and her two young daughters. With little evidence but the police closing in Megan, the outsider of the group, agrees to take the fall on behalf of the group and admits to dangerous driving. However, there are conditions, the group must look after Megan when she is released at which point, she will call in a favour from each of them, and Xav must marry her when she is released from prison.
The book switches to the second timeline, twenty years on when Megan is released from prison, having had her stay prolonged for a series of misdemeanours whilst incarcerated. An extended stay she believes was also part of a conspiracy by the people who were supposed to represent her.
With a number of the friends dying under very suspicious circumstances, nerves, tension and blame builds as some fight to suppress the truth from events twenty years ago, and others want to be free from the burden of the lies they told and lives that were shattered.
Review and Comments
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars for characterisation. The characters, whilst not deeply drawn, are most certainly brilliantly casted in this twisty game of consequences, survival, and allegiance, where loyalty is tested to the full. One of the book’s quotes sums up the characters and situation perfectly...
“A Silence fell, as though Xav had voiced a truth they’d all known but had been keeping hidden; that they had been drawn together by nothing more than a smug acceptance of their shared privilege, that they were none of them particularly nice, certainly not good people”
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐stars for an enthralling plot, that was gripping from beginning to end with twists galore that only set to heighten tension in this emotionally intense book of moral dilemmas.
2 ⭐⭐ for the plausibility. The favours felt too far fetched and impossible to deliver on. I would like the favours to have been toned down to make the story more believable. I imagine if you were going to bribe someone and convince them that you have dirt on them, it has to be with someone that knows you or the evidence you had was so compelling that they had no other option but to yield to your demands. Giving up a child because they have two and you have none, no matter what they have over you was too implausible. I think many would be signing their own death warrant in these circumstances. This didn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the book though because next the storytelling ....
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars for the storytelling. I felt totally invested in this story, and whilst I had an inkling of the outcome, we were treated with such great suspense, endless twists, and surprising revelations that just kept adding to the drama and the tension. The story telling was superb. It captured the endless sense of dread and anxiety and brought home the inevitability of having to face up to bad and reckless decisions and actions.
Unforgettable because it is unsettling. Immersive because of the clever plot, fascinating because of the characterisation and haunting because of the endless wrongdoing and poor choices and ill placed priorities.
‘The Pact’ and packed with everything you need from a captivating thriller. A deadly bond among five privileged students (plus one). A lethal pact with devastating consequences, and a conspiracy of lies which forces the dynamics between the group to shift constantly. Haunting from beginning to end. A book I could not put down.
The Plot
A reckless car adventure among the six friends leads to the death of a schoolteacher and her two young daughters. With little evidence but the police closing in Megan, the outsider of the group, agrees to take the fall on behalf of the group and admits to dangerous driving. However, there are conditions, the group must look after Megan when she is released at which point, she will call in a favour from each of them, and Xav must marry her when she is released from prison.
The book switches to the second timeline, twenty years on when Megan is released from prison, having had her stay prolonged for a series of misdemeanours whilst incarcerated. An extended stay she believes was also part of a conspiracy by the people who were supposed to represent her.
With a number of the friends dying under very suspicious circumstances, nerves, tension and blame builds as some fight to suppress the truth from events twenty years ago, and others want to be free from the burden of the lies they told and lives that were shattered.
Review and Comments
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars for characterisation. The characters, whilst not deeply drawn, are most certainly brilliantly casted in this twisty game of consequences, survival, and allegiance, where loyalty is tested to the full. One of the book’s quotes sums up the characters and situation perfectly...
“A Silence fell, as though Xav had voiced a truth they’d all known but had been keeping hidden; that they had been drawn together by nothing more than a smug acceptance of their shared privilege, that they were none of them particularly nice, certainly not good people”
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐stars for an enthralling plot, that was gripping from beginning to end with twists galore that only set to heighten tension in this emotionally intense book of moral dilemmas.
2 ⭐⭐ for the plausibility. The favours felt too far fetched and impossible to deliver on. I would like the favours to have been toned down to make the story more believable. I imagine if you were going to bribe someone and convince them that you have dirt on them, it has to be with someone that knows you or the evidence you had was so compelling that they had no other option but to yield to your demands. Giving up a child because they have two and you have none, no matter what they have over you was too implausible. I think many would be signing their own death warrant in these circumstances. This didn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the book though because next the storytelling ....
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars for the storytelling. I felt totally invested in this story, and whilst I had an inkling of the outcome, we were treated with such great suspense, endless twists, and surprising revelations that just kept adding to the drama and the tension. The story telling was superb. It captured the endless sense of dread and anxiety and brought home the inevitability of having to face up to bad and reckless decisions and actions.
Unforgettable because it is unsettling. Immersive because of the clever plot, fascinating because of the characterisation and haunting because of the endless wrongdoing and poor choices and ill placed priorities.
June 24, 2021
A tightly woven and unputdownable thriller.
Before finding out their A Level test results, six friends are spending their night drinking by the pool, which is the norm for them. They foolishly decide to continue a dare where one of them have to drive the wrong direction on a highway for approximately 2 miles. Daniel is the only one who hasn’t had a turn yet. Unfortunately, this stupid stunt results in the horrific death of a woman and her two young daughters.
Although she wasn’t the one driving this time, 18-year old Megan decides to take the blame. She will take full responsibility and let the others go on with their lives…as long as they each agree to owe her a favor when she is released from prison. It can be anything she wants and with no questions asked. Megan documents their agreement for proof, and is swiftly taken into custody.
20 years later, Megan has been released from prison and reaches out to her former friends. She’s not the same scared young woman she was, and the others have every reason to be afraid for their futures.
I could not get enough of this book as it builds with suspense and dread, but also fascinates as a character study on how people react to terrible situations and deal with guilt. Everyone is despicable for what they have done, and yet I did feel for a couple of them in the present day here and there.
There were some great surprises that I didn’t see coming, and I couldn’t devour this fast enough. A few moments in the second half lost momentum, but quickly picked up again…resulting in a near-perfect thriller that I would highly recommend.
Shoutout to my friend Peter, whose amazing review had me immediately looking to see where I could read this one. Thanks to him, I now also have an author whose backlog I’m excited to catch up on!
Another shoutout to my local library, who didn’t have a copy of this book until I requested them to order it. They happily obliged.
4.5 stars rounded up!
Available now from Orion Publishing.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Before finding out their A Level test results, six friends are spending their night drinking by the pool, which is the norm for them. They foolishly decide to continue a dare where one of them have to drive the wrong direction on a highway for approximately 2 miles. Daniel is the only one who hasn’t had a turn yet. Unfortunately, this stupid stunt results in the horrific death of a woman and her two young daughters.
Although she wasn’t the one driving this time, 18-year old Megan decides to take the blame. She will take full responsibility and let the others go on with their lives…as long as they each agree to owe her a favor when she is released from prison. It can be anything she wants and with no questions asked. Megan documents their agreement for proof, and is swiftly taken into custody.
20 years later, Megan has been released from prison and reaches out to her former friends. She’s not the same scared young woman she was, and the others have every reason to be afraid for their futures.
I could not get enough of this book as it builds with suspense and dread, but also fascinates as a character study on how people react to terrible situations and deal with guilt. Everyone is despicable for what they have done, and yet I did feel for a couple of them in the present day here and there.
There were some great surprises that I didn’t see coming, and I couldn’t devour this fast enough. A few moments in the second half lost momentum, but quickly picked up again…resulting in a near-perfect thriller that I would highly recommend.
Shoutout to my friend Peter, whose amazing review had me immediately looking to see where I could read this one. Thanks to him, I now also have an author whose backlog I’m excited to catch up on!
Another shoutout to my local library, who didn’t have a copy of this book until I requested them to order it. They happily obliged.
4.5 stars rounded up!
Available now from Orion Publishing.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
August 23, 2021
Promises
The Pact by Sharon Bolton is another outstanding psychological thriller with a devilish plot that is full of tension, mystery, and the ultimate consequences of making a pact that someday needs to be honoured.
Six college students sitting top of their class at All Souls School in Oxford, face a future that appears full of possibilities and rewards. Talitha, Felix, Xav, Daniel, Amber and Megan plan their next step to University and after their A’ Level results the following day, have a summer of friendship and pleasure ahead. That night, however, is Daniel’s turn to undertake the dare they have each completed and drive the wrong direction between two junctions of the motorway. Only on this occasion, it results in the death of a mother and her two young daughters.
The psychological torment they each feel as their future dreams are wiped out before they even started, is brilliantly drawn, never mind the guilt of causing three innocent deaths. The turmoil of each character as they try to concoct a plan is palpable and each of the friends has a different suggestion, fear and finger to point, which is so cleverly weaved together in an unsettling drama, that you can feel the despair. Megan offers a solution – she will take the fall for them ALL and claim that she alone was in the car that night. The price for this is that they all owe her a favour of whatever she asks. She video records their testimony and signed proof of their complicity should she ever need to use it.
Twenty years later Megan is released from prison, having served the full sentence, and having suffered multiple attacks and injuries which have left her physically and mentally damaged with amnesia of the night in question. The last twenty years have been good to the other five with Talitha now a senior partner in a law firm, Felix is a successful entrepreneur and businessman, Xav is an investment banker, Daniel is head of All Souls School and Amber is a junior minister in the current government and a rising star.
While the plot is fantastic the real brilliance is the character study, in how each deals very differently with Megan, the guilt of never having visited or called her, the shame of wishing she was never released, and the fear of the price to be exacted. As the tension rises and Megan appears shrewd and highly capable, the other five struggle to agree on how to deal with her and their relationships come under significant pressure. The suggestions could not be more extreme, and Megan seems to always be a step ahead and integrating herself into their families.
Sharon Bolton is a master of the psychological thriller, with her devilish plotting and deft use of the emotional turmoil that her characters face. It is difficult to put this book down as the pace and tension are so compelling. I would highly recommend this book – really superb, and I would like to thank Orion Publishing, Trapeze and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in return for an honest review.
The Pact by Sharon Bolton is another outstanding psychological thriller with a devilish plot that is full of tension, mystery, and the ultimate consequences of making a pact that someday needs to be honoured.
Six college students sitting top of their class at All Souls School in Oxford, face a future that appears full of possibilities and rewards. Talitha, Felix, Xav, Daniel, Amber and Megan plan their next step to University and after their A’ Level results the following day, have a summer of friendship and pleasure ahead. That night, however, is Daniel’s turn to undertake the dare they have each completed and drive the wrong direction between two junctions of the motorway. Only on this occasion, it results in the death of a mother and her two young daughters.
The psychological torment they each feel as their future dreams are wiped out before they even started, is brilliantly drawn, never mind the guilt of causing three innocent deaths. The turmoil of each character as they try to concoct a plan is palpable and each of the friends has a different suggestion, fear and finger to point, which is so cleverly weaved together in an unsettling drama, that you can feel the despair. Megan offers a solution – she will take the fall for them ALL and claim that she alone was in the car that night. The price for this is that they all owe her a favour of whatever she asks. She video records their testimony and signed proof of their complicity should she ever need to use it.
Twenty years later Megan is released from prison, having served the full sentence, and having suffered multiple attacks and injuries which have left her physically and mentally damaged with amnesia of the night in question. The last twenty years have been good to the other five with Talitha now a senior partner in a law firm, Felix is a successful entrepreneur and businessman, Xav is an investment banker, Daniel is head of All Souls School and Amber is a junior minister in the current government and a rising star.
While the plot is fantastic the real brilliance is the character study, in how each deals very differently with Megan, the guilt of never having visited or called her, the shame of wishing she was never released, and the fear of the price to be exacted. As the tension rises and Megan appears shrewd and highly capable, the other five struggle to agree on how to deal with her and their relationships come under significant pressure. The suggestions could not be more extreme, and Megan seems to always be a step ahead and integrating herself into their families.
Sharon Bolton is a master of the psychological thriller, with her devilish plotting and deft use of the emotional turmoil that her characters face. It is difficult to put this book down as the pace and tension are so compelling. I would highly recommend this book – really superb, and I would like to thank Orion Publishing, Trapeze and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in return for an honest review.
March 19, 2021
Early morning of A Level results day, five friends who have nearly all drunk heavily, one crazy dare, a mad reckless rite of passage, a major tragedy and a pact as one takes the fall for the others. In return they grant Megan one favour each, as and when ...... The story is told then and twenty years on.
Sharon Bolton hits it out of the park again with this latest thriller. It’s a heart in the mouth shocker that yanks you into the storytelling immediately. This is a very well written novel with the author at the top of her game. The characterisation is excellent, they are not necessarily likeable and all bar Megan are incredibly privileged with glittering futures ahead of the which they fulfil. You sway between feeling a bit (not much) sorry for them as Megan exacts her favours and then thinking they’re getting exactly what they deserve for the rashness and ‘wisdom’ of youth. The pacing is spot on as the tension rises and rises, then falls which I’m thankful for as I don’t think my ticker will stand the stress! There are some fantastic, vivid descriptions in some good settings in and around Oxford and some of the best are in a reclamation yard belonging to Megan’s father. Some of the weird and wonderful reclamation objects add some chill and creepiness. I like how the balance of power shifts and sways as pounds of flesh are demanded and the four friends make plans a bit like headless chickens. Megan’s reappearance brings out the worst in some of them, existing traits subsumed to their success. The end is breathtaking as the plot twists keep coming.
Overall, I think Sharon Bolton is a master of this genre as yet again it’s a book that is impossible to put down. I wasn’t sure how she’d follow The Split but she sure has!
With thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group, Trapeze for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Sharon Bolton hits it out of the park again with this latest thriller. It’s a heart in the mouth shocker that yanks you into the storytelling immediately. This is a very well written novel with the author at the top of her game. The characterisation is excellent, they are not necessarily likeable and all bar Megan are incredibly privileged with glittering futures ahead of the which they fulfil. You sway between feeling a bit (not much) sorry for them as Megan exacts her favours and then thinking they’re getting exactly what they deserve for the rashness and ‘wisdom’ of youth. The pacing is spot on as the tension rises and rises, then falls which I’m thankful for as I don’t think my ticker will stand the stress! There are some fantastic, vivid descriptions in some good settings in and around Oxford and some of the best are in a reclamation yard belonging to Megan’s father. Some of the weird and wonderful reclamation objects add some chill and creepiness. I like how the balance of power shifts and sways as pounds of flesh are demanded and the four friends make plans a bit like headless chickens. Megan’s reappearance brings out the worst in some of them, existing traits subsumed to their success. The end is breathtaking as the plot twists keep coming.
Overall, I think Sharon Bolton is a master of this genre as yet again it’s a book that is impossible to put down. I wasn’t sure how she’d follow The Split but she sure has!
With thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group, Trapeze for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
June 10, 2023
Writing: 4/5 | Plot: fun | Ending: her best yet periodt
SYNOPSIS
20 years ago, 6 friends made a pact to let one of them take the fall for a fatal accident. And now that the fall girl is out, the nightmare is starting again.
MY OPINION
After an extremely mediocre May, I put my hopes and dreams in the hands of Bolton and thank F*CK she did not disappoint. Before I get started, you need to yeet your disbelief to fully enjoy this one. I'm usually not drawn to the whole 'trauma bonded group of friends deal with the consequences of their youth', but I was so down bad, I threw caution to the wind.
This was definitely the most 'popcorn thriller-y' of all her books that I've read. It's edgier than your standard fare, but it ain't no Dead Scared or Now You See Me in terms of hella disturbing vibes. I can see why this is her highest rated standalone. It's definitely more for the masses. I would recommend this as a solid intro to Bolton's signature writing style if you don't want to dive head first into her grittier reads.
I consider Bolton one of the best at crafting characters and unique settings. I always learn something when reading her books. Her characters are always distinct and distinguishable from one another. And what a pleasant surprise that she held her shit together at the end. That's usually my gripe with her books: she's goes too whackadoodle in the last 20% and throws everything and a BBL at you. I was legit shook when I came to the end; had to double check it wasn't a misprint because it's not her style to end things so...reasonably? Lol. I can see a lot of readers finding it abrupt, but similar to The Trap, I liked that it ended shortly after the climax and didn't serve up the 'catching up with a friend over coffee' epilogue. I truly don't give af what so and so is doing in 4 months time unless it's gonna drop another bombshell.
Anyways, this was just what I needed after all my trials and tribulations. My fave is still Now You See Me. A BANGER.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: well-written, fast-paced, intriguing, entertaining, perfect ending, great characters
Cons: just missing that lil je ne sais quoi to make it bangerlicious, the plot wasn't anything new and quite predictable (esp for a Bolton book - she usually leaves my jaw dropped with her twisties)
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
SYNOPSIS
20 years ago, 6 friends made a pact to let one of them take the fall for a fatal accident. And now that the fall girl is out, the nightmare is starting again.
MY OPINION
After an extremely mediocre May, I put my hopes and dreams in the hands of Bolton and thank F*CK she did not disappoint. Before I get started, you need to yeet your disbelief to fully enjoy this one. I'm usually not drawn to the whole 'trauma bonded group of friends deal with the consequences of their youth', but I was so down bad, I threw caution to the wind.
This was definitely the most 'popcorn thriller-y' of all her books that I've read. It's edgier than your standard fare, but it ain't no Dead Scared or Now You See Me in terms of hella disturbing vibes. I can see why this is her highest rated standalone. It's definitely more for the masses. I would recommend this as a solid intro to Bolton's signature writing style if you don't want to dive head first into her grittier reads.
I consider Bolton one of the best at crafting characters and unique settings. I always learn something when reading her books. Her characters are always distinct and distinguishable from one another. And what a pleasant surprise that she held her shit together at the end. That's usually my gripe with her books: she's goes too whackadoodle in the last 20% and throws everything and a BBL at you. I was legit shook when I came to the end; had to double check it wasn't a misprint because it's not her style to end things so...reasonably? Lol. I can see a lot of readers finding it abrupt, but similar to The Trap, I liked that it ended shortly after the climax and didn't serve up the 'catching up with a friend over coffee' epilogue. I truly don't give af what so and so is doing in 4 months time unless it's gonna drop another bombshell.
Anyways, this was just what I needed after all my trials and tribulations. My fave is still Now You See Me. A BANGER.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: well-written, fast-paced, intriguing, entertaining, perfect ending, great characters
Cons: just missing that lil je ne sais quoi to make it bangerlicious, the plot wasn't anything new and quite predictable (esp for a Bolton book - she usually leaves my jaw dropped with her twisties)
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
April 8, 2022
4.5 stars
The talent of Sharon Bolton is she takes what we think is a tired trope and turns it on its head. She works her magic to make it fresh and new.
A group of six friends at a prestigious private school play a dangerous drag racing game that results in the tragic deaths of a mother and her young children. The Pact? Megan will take the fall with the stipulation that when she gets out of prison, she will be entitled to one wish fulfilled from each of them.
Who knew Megan would get the maximum prison time? 20 years later she is released and returns to cash in on the agreement. The other 5 have moved on with their lives, and have families, careers, and ambitions that are now threatened.
What will Megan ask of them? The psychological turmoil and guilt that each character experiences after Megan returns was riveting and unputdownable. The group dynamics and character studies are what sets this apart from many books in the genre.
As the five feverishly work to mitigate the damage and come up with a plan to thwart Megan I was left flipping the virtual pages to see how this would play out. There are brilliant surprising twists that I didn't see coming.
I've read psychological thrillers for years and this author is one of the few who gets it right and manages to surprise with a tightly plotted thriller and excellent character development. The perfect combination!
*audio via Audible with excellent narration by Hanako Footman
The talent of Sharon Bolton is she takes what we think is a tired trope and turns it on its head. She works her magic to make it fresh and new.
A group of six friends at a prestigious private school play a dangerous drag racing game that results in the tragic deaths of a mother and her young children. The Pact? Megan will take the fall with the stipulation that when she gets out of prison, she will be entitled to one wish fulfilled from each of them.
Who knew Megan would get the maximum prison time? 20 years later she is released and returns to cash in on the agreement. The other 5 have moved on with their lives, and have families, careers, and ambitions that are now threatened.
What will Megan ask of them? The psychological turmoil and guilt that each character experiences after Megan returns was riveting and unputdownable. The group dynamics and character studies are what sets this apart from many books in the genre.
As the five feverishly work to mitigate the damage and come up with a plan to thwart Megan I was left flipping the virtual pages to see how this would play out. There are brilliant surprising twists that I didn't see coming.
I've read psychological thrillers for years and this author is one of the few who gets it right and manages to surprise with a tightly plotted thriller and excellent character development. The perfect combination!
*audio via Audible with excellent narration by Hanako Footman
June 15, 2021
I haven't all of Sharon Bolton's novels but really enjoyed the couple I did read. The description of this book really caught my interest. After reading quite a few positive reviews, I decided to give the audio a try and I'm really glad I did.
I thought this was a great audiobook. The story was gripping and I really liked the narration. I listened to it over the course of a few evenings. It was a difficult one to put down, and I ended up staying up well past my bedtime to finish it the other night.
An excellent psychological thriller with some great twists! I'm definitely going to be reading more from this author.
January 11, 2022
This is an unbelievable act of friendship or stupidity, but written so enticingly tense I could not get enough of it. Brilliantly paced with building tension throughout, never once slowing down. I am amazed with this twisty thriller!
Six friends at the top of their academic game at the All Souls School in Oxford wait anxiously for their scores to see if their next level is in an Ivy League University. To relieve some of the anxious vibes, they party and half out of their mind. They have a troublesome dare to drive up the wrong side of the highway and have successfully accomplished it in the past without running over any one. This night changes everything when their car runs a mother and her two children into a tree ending in a fiery crash. Guilt ridden, they make a pact to sign and video a testimony of all involved if the law questions them. Even though Megan was not driving, she decides to take the fall for the accident.
One confession leads to the wrong conviction, but the friends stand by their story that Megan did it thinking since she was young, she would get the minimum sentence and be released early. Wrong.......
She received the maximum sentence 20 years and upon her release she will ask each one of them for a favor. While incarcerated, she has been beaten and destroyed and upon her release she is not the same person, but she is coming back to ask for her favor they all owe her.
Daniel, Xavier, Amber, Talitha and Felix have moved on with their lives never writing or visiting her with their parents request to cut ties. Their guilt torments them daily and even though they are all successful their lives are riddled with lies. The story is woven so tightly you will not be able to peek through it and see even a hint of what will happen. Read it and think just how far would you go for a friend?
"When you think you can't possibly be more afraid, you learn that you can be, that there is no limit to fear."
Six friends at the top of their academic game at the All Souls School in Oxford wait anxiously for their scores to see if their next level is in an Ivy League University. To relieve some of the anxious vibes, they party and half out of their mind. They have a troublesome dare to drive up the wrong side of the highway and have successfully accomplished it in the past without running over any one. This night changes everything when their car runs a mother and her two children into a tree ending in a fiery crash. Guilt ridden, they make a pact to sign and video a testimony of all involved if the law questions them. Even though Megan was not driving, she decides to take the fall for the accident.
One confession leads to the wrong conviction, but the friends stand by their story that Megan did it thinking since she was young, she would get the minimum sentence and be released early. Wrong.......
She received the maximum sentence 20 years and upon her release she will ask each one of them for a favor. While incarcerated, she has been beaten and destroyed and upon her release she is not the same person, but she is coming back to ask for her favor they all owe her.
Daniel, Xavier, Amber, Talitha and Felix have moved on with their lives never writing or visiting her with their parents request to cut ties. Their guilt torments them daily and even though they are all successful their lives are riddled with lies. The story is woven so tightly you will not be able to peek through it and see even a hint of what will happen. Read it and think just how far would you go for a friend?
"When you think you can't possibly be more afraid, you learn that you can be, that there is no limit to fear."
July 22, 2021
We'll be best friends forever because you already know too much.
Ahh, the friendships we make in our youth. It's a time of bonding, of growth, of maturing, and coming into your own. But it can also be a reckless time. When you are young you feel invincible, you have your whole life in front of you, you feel nothing can touch you! But what happens when tragedy strikes?
Six friends: Dan, Xav, Amber, Talitha, Megan & Felix, are looking forward to bright futures. They have been studying hard, getting good grades. When one of them suggests a way to let off some steam, they go for it. What could go wrong?
EVERYTHING!
Their joyride(s) end with the death of a woman and her two young children. Life isn't so fun anymore. Scrambling, worried about their futures, eighteen-year-old, Megan steps up to take the blame for all of them. Is she their best friend ever or is she a naïve young girl who wants their friendship? That terrible, tragic night, after Megan steps up, she tells them that they will owe her a 'favour' when all is said and done.
Twenty years later, Megan is released from prison. Her friends have gone on to complete college, have jobs, most have married, one has chidden, basically they have moved on. While Megan has health issues and a desire to reconnect. How will the others react? I'm always happy to reconnect with old friends, but this lot, well....
I had fun with this book. With everything on the line, what would you do? This book has a lot of dread and tension. Several times while reading this book I was reminded of the saying "with friends like these...." The Pact has a cat and mouse merged with an everyman/woman for his/herself vibe to it. As everyone scrambles in this book, it was fun to watch as everything comes crumbling down around them.
I really enjoy Bolton's storytelling, and this was not exception. She had me guessing and created some really interesting and when I say interesting, I mean, unlikeable characters.
When I got to the end I thought, are you kidding me!?! Seriously, are you kidding me? Come on!
Then I calmed down and thought okay, I mean I guess it works but…. are you kidding me?
The twist was shocking! I did not see that coming AT ALL!!
With friends like these....
**Buddy Read with Mary Beth and Brenda! Thank you, Heidi, for joining us in our final discussion. Please look for their reviews as well.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Ahh, the friendships we make in our youth. It's a time of bonding, of growth, of maturing, and coming into your own. But it can also be a reckless time. When you are young you feel invincible, you have your whole life in front of you, you feel nothing can touch you! But what happens when tragedy strikes?
Six friends: Dan, Xav, Amber, Talitha, Megan & Felix, are looking forward to bright futures. They have been studying hard, getting good grades. When one of them suggests a way to let off some steam, they go for it. What could go wrong?
EVERYTHING!
Their joyride(s) end with the death of a woman and her two young children. Life isn't so fun anymore. Scrambling, worried about their futures, eighteen-year-old, Megan steps up to take the blame for all of them. Is she their best friend ever or is she a naïve young girl who wants their friendship? That terrible, tragic night, after Megan steps up, she tells them that they will owe her a 'favour' when all is said and done.
Twenty years later, Megan is released from prison. Her friends have gone on to complete college, have jobs, most have married, one has chidden, basically they have moved on. While Megan has health issues and a desire to reconnect. How will the others react? I'm always happy to reconnect with old friends, but this lot, well....
I had fun with this book. With everything on the line, what would you do? This book has a lot of dread and tension. Several times while reading this book I was reminded of the saying "with friends like these...." The Pact has a cat and mouse merged with an everyman/woman for his/herself vibe to it. As everyone scrambles in this book, it was fun to watch as everything comes crumbling down around them.
I really enjoy Bolton's storytelling, and this was not exception. She had me guessing and created some really interesting and when I say interesting, I mean, unlikeable characters.
When I got to the end I thought, are you kidding me!?! Seriously, are you kidding me? Come on!
Then I calmed down and thought okay, I mean I guess it works but…. are you kidding me?
The twist was shocking! I did not see that coming AT ALL!!
With friends like these....
**Buddy Read with Mary Beth and Brenda! Thank you, Heidi, for joining us in our final discussion. Please look for their reviews as well.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
September 11, 2021
Final update: This book is going to be my disappointment of the year. I absolutely love Sharon Bolton, I read most of her books. I was in awe reading the premise of The Pact: a story about a group of friends sharing a big secret written by one of my favorite authors? Count me in!
I'm so sorry to say I'm one of the only readers who wasn't hooked by this story. At first, I was, but I changed my mind after a couple of chapters. This book doesn'st stand out among the other thrillers. I didn't bond with any of the characters (and I usually appreciate reading about unlikable characters), the ending fell flat and I didn't think it was suspenseful enough.
What seemed to me like a fascinating premise didn't meet my expectations. I don't know how I can love this author so much and disagree with the great reviews of The Pact, but it seems like I'm an outlier! 2.5 stars
Update: finally reading it and I think it won't disappoint. 6% in and I'm already hooked!
This sounds amazing!!
I'm so sorry to say I'm one of the only readers who wasn't hooked by this story. At first, I was, but I changed my mind after a couple of chapters. This book doesn'st stand out among the other thrillers. I didn't bond with any of the characters (and I usually appreciate reading about unlikable characters), the ending fell flat and I didn't think it was suspenseful enough.
What seemed to me like a fascinating premise didn't meet my expectations. I don't know how I can love this author so much and disagree with the great reviews of The Pact, but it seems like I'm an outlier! 2.5 stars
Update: finally reading it and I think it won't disappoint. 6% in and I'm already hooked!
This sounds amazing!!
March 22, 2023
Oooh!! This is one of those books that leaves you asking yourself…what would I do!?
Six friends are throwing themselves an early celebration. It’s the night before their final grades are released and college life is just one step away. Time for them to play their favorite game. Each one takes turn at the wheel going the wrong way down the highway. (Brilliant.) It’s the predawn hours and virtually no one else is on the road. But when the final friend takes the wheel for his turn…not surprisingly, the game turns deadly.
Panic takes over the partiers as the fingers begin pointing. But one member of the group is willing to stand up and take responsibility…under one condition. She insists that each of the others promise her “one favor” upon her release from prison. They all quickly and gladly agree.
But when the release date comes, can the former friends be trusted to adhere to their promise? We shall see.
Game on! Sharon Bolton writes a gripping, yet unsettling read. Each favor that was demanded was continually more shocking than the last. Can they say yes? Can they afford not to!?
Highly recommend! 4.5🌟
Six friends are throwing themselves an early celebration. It’s the night before their final grades are released and college life is just one step away. Time for them to play their favorite game. Each one takes turn at the wheel going the wrong way down the highway. (Brilliant.) It’s the predawn hours and virtually no one else is on the road. But when the final friend takes the wheel for his turn…not surprisingly, the game turns deadly.
Panic takes over the partiers as the fingers begin pointing. But one member of the group is willing to stand up and take responsibility…under one condition. She insists that each of the others promise her “one favor” upon her release from prison. They all quickly and gladly agree.
But when the release date comes, can the former friends be trusted to adhere to their promise? We shall see.
Game on! Sharon Bolton writes a gripping, yet unsettling read. Each favor that was demanded was continually more shocking than the last. Can they say yes? Can they afford not to!?
Highly recommend! 4.5🌟
May 9, 2023
Six high school chums on the cusp of graduation. A horrible accident occurs which could effectively taint all of their hopes and dreams. A pact is made, promises are given. Now, twenty years later, the realities of the pact are raising some very ugly implications. Lies and partial truths, impossible to decipher which is which. Favors are called in that are beyond the pale.
Do not be deceived. You may think you have read this premise before, but I guarantee that this is not one of those. It dang near gave me whiplash before all was said and done. This author hasn't disappointed me yet.
Do not be deceived. You may think you have read this premise before, but I guarantee that this is not one of those. It dang near gave me whiplash before all was said and done. This author hasn't disappointed me yet.
October 27, 2023
Talitha, Amber,Megan,Felix,Daniel &Xav were all friends who were sitting their A level exams at All Souls School in Oxford.
One night they all were skylarking in a car and accident happened & two children & their parents were killed.
They all were horrified at what they had done so they made a pact to never reveal anything to anyone , until Megan decides to take the blame & she spends Twenty years in Jail for her crime.
Twenty years later everyone in the group had either married some with kids some without& all did very well in the job area most had high paid jobs but only Daniel was on a teachers wage.
Now Megan gets out of prison & wants something from all of them in return… she is gaunt , pale & needs a kidney transplant she holds all the cards 🎴
Will she get what she wants?
I absolutely loved this book it was a page turner, twisty & I was gasping with every reveal this did my head in, kudos to Ms Sharon Bolton for keeping me entertained right from start to finish she is definitely the queen of psychological suspense highly recommended.
One night they all were skylarking in a car and accident happened & two children & their parents were killed.
They all were horrified at what they had done so they made a pact to never reveal anything to anyone , until Megan decides to take the blame & she spends Twenty years in Jail for her crime.
Twenty years later everyone in the group had either married some with kids some without& all did very well in the job area most had high paid jobs but only Daniel was on a teachers wage.
Now Megan gets out of prison & wants something from all of them in return… she is gaunt , pale & needs a kidney transplant she holds all the cards 🎴
Will she get what she wants?
I absolutely loved this book it was a page turner, twisty & I was gasping with every reveal this did my head in, kudos to Ms Sharon Bolton for keeping me entertained right from start to finish she is definitely the queen of psychological suspense highly recommended.
June 11, 2021
I'm just going to come out and say it - I didn't like this one and I was bored. The story was ridiculous and I'm glad to have finished it.
When I started reading this novel I had to double check the blurb just to make sure that I hadn't stumbled upon a YA novel by mistake. The novel was marketed as an adult thriller, but it didn't feel very adult at all. The early chapters where we meet the 6 friends just seemed very YA to me. The ages of the characters, their dialogue, their actions, the plot, all of it didn't seem very "adult" at all. As the story progressed, it became clear that this was indeed an adult thriller, and that those early chapters were necessary to set up the plot, but still, something just didn't sit right with me. The novel never completely lost it's YA feel. Even as adults, I found some of the dialogue and the actions of the characters fairly immature.
I also realised as the story progressed that I didn't like any of the characters, nor did I bond with any of them, meaning that I really didn't care what happened to them. The actions of the characters also didn't always work for me. As an example, a certain character rejoins the group when they are adults and this person's behaviour is nothing short of weird. One minute the person is vindictive, creepy and clearly out for revenge, and then does a 180 degree turn and becomes the complete opposite. It was very unbelievable. And all of these characters had super high powered jobs as adults, but yet their behaviour and the things that they said, just made me go, what? A politician with her eye on cabinet acting like a little girl, and a high powered lawyer and law firm partner who never came across as anything other than a bossy teenage "leader of the pack". It was just off.
Lastly, I didn't like the ending and I didn't really understand it. The big reveal was so out of left field that I was left scratching my head. Why that person? What had happened to them to make them this way? What in the story led to that ending? None of this was explained. Everything just became totally over the top and very unlikely, and to be honest, the ending didn't seem to tie up to anything that had happened in the early stages of the book.
I'm normally a big fan of Sharon Bolton's work, but this one missed the mark for me. I didn't enjoy this one, so much so that when I was about 70% of the way through, I totally lost interest and didn't pick it up for 3 days. I had to force myself to finish it. Unfortunately, that's never a good sign.
When I started reading this novel I had to double check the blurb just to make sure that I hadn't stumbled upon a YA novel by mistake. The novel was marketed as an adult thriller, but it didn't feel very adult at all. The early chapters where we meet the 6 friends just seemed very YA to me. The ages of the characters, their dialogue, their actions, the plot, all of it didn't seem very "adult" at all. As the story progressed, it became clear that this was indeed an adult thriller, and that those early chapters were necessary to set up the plot, but still, something just didn't sit right with me. The novel never completely lost it's YA feel. Even as adults, I found some of the dialogue and the actions of the characters fairly immature.
I also realised as the story progressed that I didn't like any of the characters, nor did I bond with any of them, meaning that I really didn't care what happened to them. The actions of the characters also didn't always work for me. As an example, a certain character rejoins the group when they are adults and this person's behaviour is nothing short of weird. One minute the person is vindictive, creepy and clearly out for revenge, and then does a 180 degree turn and becomes the complete opposite. It was very unbelievable. And all of these characters had super high powered jobs as adults, but yet their behaviour and the things that they said, just made me go, what? A politician with her eye on cabinet acting like a little girl, and a high powered lawyer and law firm partner who never came across as anything other than a bossy teenage "leader of the pack". It was just off.
Lastly, I didn't like the ending and I didn't really understand it. The big reveal was so out of left field that I was left scratching my head. Why that person? What had happened to them to make them this way? What in the story led to that ending? None of this was explained. Everything just became totally over the top and very unlikely, and to be honest, the ending didn't seem to tie up to anything that had happened in the early stages of the book.
I'm normally a big fan of Sharon Bolton's work, but this one missed the mark for me. I didn't enjoy this one, so much so that when I was about 70% of the way through, I totally lost interest and didn't pick it up for 3 days. I had to force myself to finish it. Unfortunately, that's never a good sign.
June 20, 2021
Sharon Bolton is one of my favourite authors of intense books of psychological suspense, well-defined characters, and surprising twists. This was a riveting, compelling story full of dread, tension, and shattered dreams. Most of the characters were unsympathetic and made unfortunate choices but I did not wish for a terrible outcome for them. This was a gripping, unputdownable read. The ending was unpredictable but seemed rushed and not entirely resolved. I thought some of the motives and behaviours were not always clearly defined.
A group of six friends are graduating from an exclusive, expensive school in Oxford. Five of them are privileged, self-centred, talented, and shine brilliantly in their academic studies. The cleverest is the intelligent, quiet, and beautiful Megan. She was a scholarship student from a dysfunctional, impoverished single-parent home appointed 'head girl' at her school. She, Xav, Felix, Amber, Daniel, and Talitha spend the summer following their final exams, celebrating and looking forward to University and their wonderful future adult lives and careers. Their summer is spent in riotous living, indulging in drinking, drugs, and daring stunts. A daredevil, dangerous car stunt that has been participated in by all with no repercussions finally goes horribly wrong. Some group members have taken part in the thrills and excitement, while others have been coerced to confirm with the group spirit. One night this dangerous, reckless stunt results in another car crashing and killing a mother and two young daughters. They quickly flee the scene but fear they will be blamed and their futures destroyed.
Megan offers to take the blame and claim she was the lone driver. Surely, it will be viewed as an accident, or at the worst, vehicular manslaughter with a short prison sentence. In return, the others must promise to fulfill unknown favours that she will demand when released from prison. To everyone's horror, Megan is sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of the three who died in the other vehicle. There is no early parole as she has been set up for blame for various infractions of which she is innocent. She is badly injured while incarcerated. In the meantime, her friends neglect to visit or write to her, withdrawing any emotional support. They all have achieved highly successful careers, but live with guilt, shame, and worry that they may be eventually implicated. They set up a secret trust fund for Megan after her release.
After 20 years of suffering and ill-health, Megan comes to collect on the favours from each. She is angry that the group never contacted her, ignoring her during her time in prison. The outrageous favours she demands from each individual would endanger their wealth, families, or health. She stalks them and insinuates herself into their lives, and they are under threat not to avoid her unwelcome intrusions. The atmosphere becomes malevolent, and members are being victimized or living in fear.
Some terrible things are happening, and they believe an angry, vengeful Megan is responsible.
Recommended.
A group of six friends are graduating from an exclusive, expensive school in Oxford. Five of them are privileged, self-centred, talented, and shine brilliantly in their academic studies. The cleverest is the intelligent, quiet, and beautiful Megan. She was a scholarship student from a dysfunctional, impoverished single-parent home appointed 'head girl' at her school. She, Xav, Felix, Amber, Daniel, and Talitha spend the summer following their final exams, celebrating and looking forward to University and their wonderful future adult lives and careers. Their summer is spent in riotous living, indulging in drinking, drugs, and daring stunts. A daredevil, dangerous car stunt that has been participated in by all with no repercussions finally goes horribly wrong. Some group members have taken part in the thrills and excitement, while others have been coerced to confirm with the group spirit. One night this dangerous, reckless stunt results in another car crashing and killing a mother and two young daughters. They quickly flee the scene but fear they will be blamed and their futures destroyed.
Megan offers to take the blame and claim she was the lone driver. Surely, it will be viewed as an accident, or at the worst, vehicular manslaughter with a short prison sentence. In return, the others must promise to fulfill unknown favours that she will demand when released from prison. To everyone's horror, Megan is sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of the three who died in the other vehicle. There is no early parole as she has been set up for blame for various infractions of which she is innocent. She is badly injured while incarcerated. In the meantime, her friends neglect to visit or write to her, withdrawing any emotional support. They all have achieved highly successful careers, but live with guilt, shame, and worry that they may be eventually implicated. They set up a secret trust fund for Megan after her release.
After 20 years of suffering and ill-health, Megan comes to collect on the favours from each. She is angry that the group never contacted her, ignoring her during her time in prison. The outrageous favours she demands from each individual would endanger their wealth, families, or health. She stalks them and insinuates herself into their lives, and they are under threat not to avoid her unwelcome intrusions. The atmosphere becomes malevolent, and members are being victimized or living in fear.
Some terrible things are happening, and they believe an angry, vengeful Megan is responsible.
Recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2021
The premise of The Pact is brilliant. The night before they are to receive their A level test results, a close-knit group of 6 friends decides to play a dangerous game which ends with the death of a woman and her 2 young children. Rather than all of them going to jail, Megan takes the blame leaving the others off the hook, but in return they all owe her a favor once she is released from prison. Once she is released from prison 20 years later, that's when things really get interesting.
The plot was clever, the pacing was impeccable and although not very likable, the characters were very well developed. Some of the characters I clearly did not like while a few of them were a shade of gray and had me going back and forth with my feelings for them. The tension was palpable and continued to gain momentum as the story unfolded to the point that I had to know how it ended.
As much as I really enjoyed it, there were a few things that kept me from bumping it up to a 5 star read. First, a key event occurred in the story that I felt was significant, but it was not given enough attention in the story. Without it being a spoiler, I cannot go into more detail than that. Second, although the ending was definitely plausible, there was something that needed a little more time for clarification. This was my first book by this author and I am definitely looking forward to reading more of her work. 4.5 stars.
The plot was clever, the pacing was impeccable and although not very likable, the characters were very well developed. Some of the characters I clearly did not like while a few of them were a shade of gray and had me going back and forth with my feelings for them. The tension was palpable and continued to gain momentum as the story unfolded to the point that I had to know how it ended.
As much as I really enjoyed it, there were a few things that kept me from bumping it up to a 5 star read. First, a key event occurred in the story that I felt was significant, but it was not given enough attention in the story. Without it being a spoiler, I cannot go into more detail than that. Second, although the ending was definitely plausible, there was something that needed a little more time for clarification. This was my first book by this author and I am definitely looking forward to reading more of her work. 4.5 stars.
April 19, 2022
Sharon Bolton, where have you been all my life? I listened to this one on audio and couldn’t stop folding laundry and cleaning because I needed the excuse to keep my headphones on. Basically, SB turned me into the queen of domestic housework.
February 28, 2022
Another terrific suspense thriller by Sharon Bolton. A dare with school friends turns into the death of a family. One young women decides she will take the fall for the others, but they must all give her a favor when she finishes her jail time.
Nicely done.
4 out of 5 stars
Nicely done.
4 out of 5 stars
May 22, 2021
It was going well..until the ending.Typical Bolton book (pacy, very good), but this time the ending disappointed me;it felt rushed and clumsy.It was a great build up,so it´s a pity it loses steam and believability;there are several inconsistencies in the way things are explained as to have happened.
April 11, 2021
If you are like me, drawn to books involving a group of close friends who happen to share some kind of a secret, then you shouldn't miss out on the latest Sharon Bolton novel. You certainly won't be disappointed!
Felix, Xav, Amber, Talitha, Megan and Dan have just finished their A Levels and all have bright futures ahead of them...Until one summer night when a dangerous driving game goes wrong and a woman and her two children end up dead. Panicked and scared the six friends flee the scene and Megan volunteers to take the blame for all of them. In return the rest of them must agree to owe her a favour for when she gets out of prison. Twenty years later, they all have successful careers except for Megan who was just released from prison and is ready to collect her debt.
From the moment I saw the synopsis of this book I knew i had to read it. It kept me at the edge of my seat the whole way through and when I thought I knew what was going to happen I was proved wrong. 4.5 stars from me!
Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Felix, Xav, Amber, Talitha, Megan and Dan have just finished their A Levels and all have bright futures ahead of them...Until one summer night when a dangerous driving game goes wrong and a woman and her two children end up dead. Panicked and scared the six friends flee the scene and Megan volunteers to take the blame for all of them. In return the rest of them must agree to owe her a favour for when she gets out of prison. Twenty years later, they all have successful careers except for Megan who was just released from prison and is ready to collect her debt.
From the moment I saw the synopsis of this book I knew i had to read it. It kept me at the edge of my seat the whole way through and when I thought I knew what was going to happen I was proved wrong. 4.5 stars from me!
Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2021
Sharon Bolton has done it again! She is an author that I have loved since reading the Lacey Flint series and I always jump to read her new books. I listened to The Pact on audio and it was brilliant. A fast paced and twisty psychological thriller that I couldn't get enough of it. And the ending was so well done, keeps you guessing right until the end.
6 friends, one very big mistake and their lives are changed for ever. 20 years later and they are all still paying for that mistake. Can they ever forgive each other and move on with their lives? You will have to read it to find out.
6 friends, one very big mistake and their lives are changed for ever. 20 years later and they are all still paying for that mistake. Can they ever forgive each other and move on with their lives? You will have to read it to find out.
October 15, 2021
The Pact was exactly what I was hoping it would be, a fast-paced, well-plotted, and entertaining psychological thriller. Sharon Bolton dependably delivered again, as she has before with Daisy in Chains and The Craftsman. It held my attention from start to finish. I especially liked all the mentions of places in Oxford, which reminded me of my time there and made me miss it! If you're a fan of authors like Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware or Lucy Foley, who write clever and multi-faceted thrillers, this might be for you. I just got her book Dead Woman Walking from the library as well and am excited to start reading soon. Recommended!
Find my book reviews and more at http://www.princessandpen.com
Find my book reviews and more at http://www.princessandpen.com
March 25, 2021
I really enjoy Sharon Bolton’s books and I was delighted to receive an advanced copy of her new book The Pact.
A group of six spoiled, wealthy teenagers high on drink and drugs take a car and play a game of chicken on the motorway that results in a fatal car accident. One of the group takes the blame and is sent to prison.
Twenty years later that person is back and is about to shatter their peaceful, privileged lives.
I really enjoyed this thriller, it was really well thought out.
The characters were great and I didn’t guess the ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
A group of six spoiled, wealthy teenagers high on drink and drugs take a car and play a game of chicken on the motorway that results in a fatal car accident. One of the group takes the blame and is sent to prison.
Twenty years later that person is back and is about to shatter their peaceful, privileged lives.
I really enjoyed this thriller, it was really well thought out.
The characters were great and I didn’t guess the ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2023
First book of 2023 read quickly just before we get back into routine after the holidays, and it was a great book to start on. A fascinating thriller with lots of twists and turns, I couldn’t put it down. It had enough twists to keep me guessing, but also was a really interesting insight into moral dilemmas and how people cope with guilt. It was tense and gripping, without being too over the top and unbelievable. Hugely recommend.
April 1, 2022
A stand alone thriller published 2021
A thrilling 4.5 star read.
A gripping audio book excellently narrated by Hanako Footman.
Sharon Bolton can always be relied upon to deliver a ripping yarns and with this book she has done it again.
To start. What we have here is a bunch of highly privilege students, with the exception of one of them who comes from a working class, single parent household. They are all the best of friends. Well, they were when the book starts.
They were the elite of the elite at school. The group that everybody else wanted to a part of.
But as usual, the wheels were always going to drop off.
It started when one of the boys decided to test his teenage male testosterone by driving, at break neck speed, up a motorway in the wrong direction. On this occasion things went well and it soon became a right of passage for the rest on the gang.
You guessed it, when the last of the gang was taking his turn an on coming car had to swerve to avoid these idiots, only to crash and burn. A mother and her two children all died in the crash.
So, to avoid all of the friends, as a whole, taking the blame a pact was formed. The young, working class, woman said she would take the blame but in return the rest of the gang has to sign a confession saying that they were all part of what happened. The price she wanted was that each of the gang would then be called upon, at a later date, to do her a favoured.
What no one was expecting was that the young woman would end up being charged with murder and being sentenced to life in prison.
Now we will see just what real friends are made of and how far some of them will go to protect their own hides.
This really is seat of your pants entertainment and will keep you guessing right to the last page.
A great read well delivered.
A thrilling 4.5 star read.
A gripping audio book excellently narrated by Hanako Footman.
Sharon Bolton can always be relied upon to deliver a ripping yarns and with this book she has done it again.
To start. What we have here is a bunch of highly privilege students, with the exception of one of them who comes from a working class, single parent household. They are all the best of friends. Well, they were when the book starts.
They were the elite of the elite at school. The group that everybody else wanted to a part of.
But as usual, the wheels were always going to drop off.
It started when one of the boys decided to test his teenage male testosterone by driving, at break neck speed, up a motorway in the wrong direction. On this occasion things went well and it soon became a right of passage for the rest on the gang.
You guessed it, when the last of the gang was taking his turn an on coming car had to swerve to avoid these idiots, only to crash and burn. A mother and her two children all died in the crash.
So, to avoid all of the friends, as a whole, taking the blame a pact was formed. The young, working class, woman said she would take the blame but in return the rest of the gang has to sign a confession saying that they were all part of what happened. The price she wanted was that each of the gang would then be called upon, at a later date, to do her a favoured.
What no one was expecting was that the young woman would end up being charged with murder and being sentenced to life in prison.
Now we will see just what real friends are made of and how far some of them will go to protect their own hides.
This really is seat of your pants entertainment and will keep you guessing right to the last page.
A great read well delivered.
April 14, 2021
Oh how I LOVE the psychological thrillers from the pen of Sharon Bolton who never once comprises on quality of writing or characterisation to deliver said thrills but always creates scenarios you can actually imagine happening to people you believe are real.
So we come to The Pact, in which a group of young friends with their whole lives ahead of them make a fatal mistake that will haunt them for years. One of their number takes the blame, letting the just as guilty rest off the hook. Yet she doesn’t realise what she’s letting herself in for and 20 years later a whole plethora of pigeons will come home to roost.
There’s your highly addictive premise and this is a book you inhale. The group dynamic the author creates is absolutely riveting, with characters you’ll love to hate to love, will root for and the opposite – plus the final outcome is unpredictable and intelligently plotted.
The writing is superb, the gently layered twists delivered pitch perfectly – themes of privilege and self esteem embedded within and a story that holds you enthralled until you turn the final page.
I loved it. Set in and around Oxford, a place I know well, only made it more real and the authentic scene setting was another huge plus here. Great cover too.
Highly recommended. Make sure you dont miss it fellow fans of psychological drama.
So we come to The Pact, in which a group of young friends with their whole lives ahead of them make a fatal mistake that will haunt them for years. One of their number takes the blame, letting the just as guilty rest off the hook. Yet she doesn’t realise what she’s letting herself in for and 20 years later a whole plethora of pigeons will come home to roost.
There’s your highly addictive premise and this is a book you inhale. The group dynamic the author creates is absolutely riveting, with characters you’ll love to hate to love, will root for and the opposite – plus the final outcome is unpredictable and intelligently plotted.
The writing is superb, the gently layered twists delivered pitch perfectly – themes of privilege and self esteem embedded within and a story that holds you enthralled until you turn the final page.
I loved it. Set in and around Oxford, a place I know well, only made it more real and the authentic scene setting was another huge plus here. Great cover too.
Highly recommended. Make sure you dont miss it fellow fans of psychological drama.
May 21, 2021
Ever since reading Donna Tartt's The Secret History, my favourite theme has remained a guilty secret amongst school or uni friends. Here we have Xavier, Felix, David, Amber, Talitha, and Megan, prefects at an independent school in Oxford who have sat their GCSEs and are awaiting starting university. Megan is the outlier; though Head Girl at the school, she is a scholarship student. Bored, they are seeking thrills on the motorway, taking turns driving fast in the oncoming carriageway for a couple of miles till they reach the next exit slipway. When it's Dan's turn, disaster strikes, an oncomig Vauxhall Astra goes off the road avoiding them, catches fire and explodes. It appears their golden futures are ruined. But Megan offers to take the blame. She will admit to having been the lone driver, but in exchange the rest of them will promise to fulfil one request from each when she has served her term. They accept this bargain but when it turns out that the victims were a mother and two small children and CCTV evidence makes it appear that Megan had been habitually driving dangerously on the motorway, she is sentenced to a life tariff, with a minimum of twenty years in prison. And now she's out again, with her list of demands and overflowing with anger at their neglect of her whilst she was in stir.
Sharon Bolton is surely amongst the top current UK writers of crime fiction and some of us would consider her about the best writer in the language. She creates settings brilliantly, and though in previous books these have included the Falkland Islands and South Georgia Island, readers of classical mystery stories will be delighted at the Oxford milieu here. Between memory and Google I found myself revisiting such favourites at Christ Church Meadow and The Trout Inn. It also features the most gripping plot. I read it non-stop at every available moment over two days, like Megan’s five erstwhile friends, on edge to discover what she would demand or do next. They have all found positions of wealth or power or influence (David is headmaster of their old school), and Megan threatens their ruin.
My only reservations concerned characterisation. I'd have expected more remorse from them, especially David, who has become some kind of Franciscan lay monastic. Personally, I believe I never could have gone through with the bargain once I knew that Megan was faced with a charge of premeditated murder - not because I'm a better person but because my conscience would have so tormented me that I'd have been crippled by reflection. As David is a classicist, I'll quote the Roman satirist:
exemplo quodcumque malo committitur, ipsi
displicet auctori: prima est haec ultio, quod se
iudice nemo nocens absolvitur . . .
Unfortunately these characters seem lacking in any inner qualities. Their fears are for their lives and their reputations, feeling no guilt for what they have done to Megan and how they destoyed her life for their convenience. In hindsight, the reader will also sense some holes in the plot. But though The Pact is not quite up to the level of Sharon Bolton's very best, which for me are the Lacey Flint novels, The Pact will surely be amongst the very best crime reads of the year and a worthy addition of the canon of one of today's very best writers.
Sharon Bolton is surely amongst the top current UK writers of crime fiction and some of us would consider her about the best writer in the language. She creates settings brilliantly, and though in previous books these have included the Falkland Islands and South Georgia Island, readers of classical mystery stories will be delighted at the Oxford milieu here. Between memory and Google I found myself revisiting such favourites at Christ Church Meadow and The Trout Inn. It also features the most gripping plot. I read it non-stop at every available moment over two days, like Megan’s five erstwhile friends, on edge to discover what she would demand or do next. They have all found positions of wealth or power or influence (David is headmaster of their old school), and Megan threatens their ruin.
My only reservations concerned characterisation. I'd have expected more remorse from them, especially David, who has become some kind of Franciscan lay monastic. Personally, I believe I never could have gone through with the bargain once I knew that Megan was faced with a charge of premeditated murder - not because I'm a better person but because my conscience would have so tormented me that I'd have been crippled by reflection. As David is a classicist, I'll quote the Roman satirist:
exemplo quodcumque malo committitur, ipsi
displicet auctori: prima est haec ultio, quod se
iudice nemo nocens absolvitur . . .
Unfortunately these characters seem lacking in any inner qualities. Their fears are for their lives and their reputations, feeling no guilt for what they have done to Megan and how they destoyed her life for their convenience. In hindsight, the reader will also sense some holes in the plot. But though The Pact is not quite up to the level of Sharon Bolton's very best, which for me are the Lacey Flint novels, The Pact will surely be amongst the very best crime reads of the year and a worthy addition of the canon of one of today's very best writers.
April 18, 2022
This 10-star book is sinister, unsettling, smart, and riveting -- all at the same time.
The "group of friends with a secret about an incident that happened during adolescence" is not a new premise.
Leave it to talented author Sharon Bolton to take an overplayed and "blah" premise and create an incredibly tense psychological thriller that is tightly woven, intricately plotted, and unputdownable.
The evening before receiving their A-level test results, six friends decide to play a dangerous driving game that results in the death of a woman and her two young children.
Instead of all friends going to jail, the friends make a pact with each other: one friend will take the blame and, in return, the other friends will owe this friend one favor each when the friend gets released from prison.
The book has two timelines: before the pact and twenty years later, when the friend gets released from prison.
All of the protagonists in this book are unlikeable, deeply flawed, and vividly portrayed. The book features multiple twists and turns with more red herrings than a fish store.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a superb job.
"The Pact" is a book you won’t want to miss. It's my second Sharon Bolton book and I look forward to listening to more titles by this talented author.
The "group of friends with a secret about an incident that happened during adolescence" is not a new premise.
Leave it to talented author Sharon Bolton to take an overplayed and "blah" premise and create an incredibly tense psychological thriller that is tightly woven, intricately plotted, and unputdownable.
The evening before receiving their A-level test results, six friends decide to play a dangerous driving game that results in the death of a woman and her two young children.
Instead of all friends going to jail, the friends make a pact with each other: one friend will take the blame and, in return, the other friends will owe this friend one favor each when the friend gets released from prison.
The book has two timelines: before the pact and twenty years later, when the friend gets released from prison.
All of the protagonists in this book are unlikeable, deeply flawed, and vividly portrayed. The book features multiple twists and turns with more red herrings than a fish store.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a superb job.
"The Pact" is a book you won’t want to miss. It's my second Sharon Bolton book and I look forward to listening to more titles by this talented author.
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